Monday, November 7, 2016

Voting ~ We make it harder than it has to be

From the time I was old enough to vote, I've always believed that voting in presidential elections, both the primaries and the general, was a serious matter, not only a matter worth my time and energy in doing my homework, gathering information, considering the sources, and ultimately making up my own mind, but I consider voting as something that is required of me as an American citizen.

The Man and I voted early, just in case our trip turned longer than expected. And while I waited in line an hour to cast my one little vote, I imagine the crowds at the polls tomorrow will be record-setting numbers. I think you'll agree that this has been a crazy election season and I'll be glad when it's in the history books.

While the person I voted for in the primaries did not win the nomination, I haven't wrestled with my vote not one day, not even on my candidate's worst day, because, frankly, I don't base my vote on a single person, but on policy positions, as well.

I seldom discuss my political leanings with anyone outside of family and a few friends, but I'm not at all ashamed of them either, and I've been more vocal on social media this year than in the past, for I believe this is a crucial election in our history. I have friends who lean left and some who lean right and some who just blow in the wind. I love them all and I don't base my friendships on political leanings, and I don't think I have lost any friends over politics, at least I hope not. I'm glad we live in a country where we can have our own opinion, where we can agree to disagree and, hopefully, in a respectful manner.

If you've read my blog long enough, you may already know where I stand on some issues. In addition to being for limited government and a strong military, I am, among other things:

Pro-life

Pro-Second Amendment

Pro-First Amendment

Pro-religious liberties

Pro-border control

Pro-lower taxes for everyone

Pro-education choices for parents

Pro-Constitution

Pro-conservative judges for Federal and Supreme Court Justices

Knowing where you stand on issues makes the voting process easier, especially when you're down to only two viable candidates.

I know there are those who will vote for a third-party candidate this year, a decision I will never understand, knowing there are Supreme Court appointments on the horizon, knowing there's zero chance for a third-party to win this election cycle. That's the harsh truth. Zero chance. Another truth is, on November 9, 2016, you and I will wake up with a new president, set to assume office in January. Either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will be elected. It will not be a third-party candidate, so why vote for a candidate whose decisions will not impact your life during the next four years? Instead, why not consider the fact that the person elected as president will make choices and appoint judges in the next four years, greatly impacting our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren from here on out? Supreme Court justices are lifetime appointments. Their rulings are final.

To not vote, as a way of perhaps revolting, or to cast a protest vote for a third-party candidate is not an option for me. I see it is saying "Oh well, the two candidates left standing are terrible, so I'll just leave it up to the rest of the country to do the work for me and decide who is my president." I see it as throwing away what little power we have as individuals to impact government.

You know as well as I do that there will never be a candidate who is perfect, nor one with whom we agree 100% of the time, but, personally I've never had any trouble picking which one of two candidates I'm going to vote for in a presidential election, and this year was no exception. All things considered, my choice for president was an easy one.

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From the RNC:

"In the Weekly Republican Address, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addressed his plan for moving our country in a new direction from the failed leadership of the last eight years, and asks the American people to elect Republicans up and down the ticket to make that vision possible. 'I’m asking for your vote and your help in electing a Republican majority in Congress, so that we can finally change this broken system and Make America Great Again.'”

Full Transcript:

DONALD TRUMP: "For the past seventeen months I've traveled across this nation and met the amazing people of our country. Their hopes have become my hopes and their dreams have become my dreams.This is not just a campaign, it’s a movement. It’s a once in a lifetime chance to take our government back from the donors and the special interests, and return the power to you, the American people.Fifteen days ago, I proposed my Contract with the American Voter—a 100 day action plan to bring real change to Washington. We need change so badly. If we win on November 8, and elect a Republican House and Senate, we can finally deliver the change the American people deserve.My Contract includes a plan to create 25 million new jobs. We will cut taxes on the middle class Americans by 35 percent, and we will repeal and replace the total disaster known as ObamaCare – it doesn’t work.We will also immediately fix our terrible trade deals and stop the jobs from leaving our country. My Contract includes a pledge to end illegal immigration, and end it rapidly, cancel federal funding for sanctuary cities, and suspend the admission of Syrian refugees into our country. They’re coming in by the thousands, and Hillary Clinton wants to increase that by 600 percent.We will rebuild our badly depleted military, and take care of our great, great veterans.We will give every parent in America the right to send their kids to the school of their choice, including millions of low-income African American and Hispanic children who have been failed, so long—for generations in fact—by the Democratic politicians like Hillary Clinton. They just haven’t been able to do the job. They’ve treated African Americans and Hispanics horribly in so many ways.We will undertake a national effort to reduce crime and poverty, and bring jobs and safety to our inner cities—finally, at last.We will restore the Constitution and nominate Supreme Court Justices who will do the same.At the center of my Contract is my plan to end government corruption. Hillary Clinton is the most corrupt person ever to seek the presidency of the United States, and if she were to win it would create a constitutional crisis like no other. She’s under multiple federal investigations, has committed many crimes, including perjury, and she’s now facing the prospect of a federal indictment.It’s time to close the history books on the Clintons, and to open a bright new chapter focused on the great citizens of our country.I’m asking for your vote and your help in electing a Republican majority in Congress, so that we can finally change this broken system and Make America Great Again. And when I say great, I mean great for everyone. Thank you very much."

May God bless America and all who exercise their right to vote. No matter who is elected, the Bible admonishes us to pray for those in power, and you can be sure that I will do exactly that.

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Dear friends, I have turned the comments off for this post, as it isn't meant to start a dialogue about politics, only to state my stance. And it isn't meant to sway anyone's vote toward my chosen candidate, although if it does, that would be great by me. Anyway, feel free to email me your thoughts. I'm not opposed to differing views, but be aware of my intolerance for disrespectful discourse.

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I'm a writer, author, wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, identical twin, believer in Jesus Christ, friend, musician, not necessarily in that order. I studied Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing at Rice University, and, with God's help, have authored three books and contributed to more than 20 other works. My work has appeared in a host of publications, including THE TENNESSEAN, MISSISSIPPI Magazine, GUIDEPOSTS and FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, as well as THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, where I was a special contributor from 1999-2008. I've also written for the HOUSTON CHRONICLE, and the BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE. I've been honored to receive two Amy Writing Awards, one in 2001 for my work in THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, and one in 2012 for my work in the BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE. I write to encourage, to inspire, to change, to motivate, to reach across the miles and touch a reader's life in some small way. It is a privilege.